SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – An East Stroudsburg woman died Thursday morning when the car in which she was a passenger was collided with another in North Manheim Township.

The crash occurred at Route 61 and Manheim Road around 8:35 a.m., according to state police Trooper Daniel Hillbish of the Schuylkill Haven station.

He said Diane S. Connors, 59, of East Stroudsburg, a front seat passenger in a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, died from injuries she suffered in the crash.

Hillbish said the crash occurred as Vistilla S. Bayton, 57, also of East Stroudsburg, was driving the Monte Carlo south on Route 61 when she tried to make a left turn onto Manheim Road at the traffic light near the Sheetz station.

Hillbish said the woman was following a tractor trailer and the traffic signal changed without her realizing it.

When the car entered the intersection it was struck broadside on the passenger's side by a northbound 2004

Pontiac Grand Am being driven by Katherine Roth, 50, of Auburn.

Hillbish said Roth did not see the Bayton car enter the intersection while following the tractor trailer.

Bayton and a back seat passenger in her car, Elaine Evans, 35, of East Stroudsburg, were flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, by medical helicopters that landed in an area near the Penn State University Schuylkill Campus, according to Schuylkill Haven Fire Chief Glen Sattizahn Jr.

Sattizahn said three helicopters were called initially but one cancelled when it was determined that Connors' injuries were fatal.

Roth was taken to a Pottsville area hospital by ambulance for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Sattizahn said all three occupants of the Bayton vehicle were extricated by Schuylkill Haven firefighters who had to remove the roof and passenger's side door of the vehicle.

Hillbish said Schuylkill Haven firefighters and Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area and Orwigsburg EMS units responded to the scene.

Sattizahn said fire police from Schuylkill Haven, Cressona and Orwigsburg assisted in diverting traffic since both northbound lanes of the highway were closed for a time while troopers conducted their investigation and the vehicles removed.